Automatic erase for magnetic recorders



AUTOMATIC ERASE FOR MAGNETIC RECORDERS Filed July 17, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l BIAS SOURCE v l7 /l8 l6 I9 20 QQI M E: KMPLIFIE PLIFIE c 56 ll wm fill 4 "mfg (((KC I ,0."

FIG. 3 INVENTORS SEMI JOSEPH BEGUN THEODORE FRANK DEUCHER ATTORNEY March 11', 1952 S BEGUM ET AL 2,589,@35

AUTOMATIC ERASE FOR MAGNETIC RECORDERS Filed July 17, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR SEMI JOSEPH BEGUN' THEODORE FRANK DEUCHER March 1, 1952 s. J. BEGUM ET AL 2,539,035

AUTOMATIC ERASE FOR MAGNETIC RECORDERS Filed July'l'7, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORS SEMI JOSEPH BEGUN THEODORE FRANK DEUCHER ATTORN Patented Mar. 11, 195?;

UNITED STATES .ATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC ERASE .FOR MAGNETIC RECORDERS Application July17, 1950, Serial No. 174,172

The present invention relates to an automatic erasing device for a magnetic recorder and specifically to such 'a device which is -m'echanica1 in nature and particularly suitablefor magnetic recorders having a record member which is eifectively a continuous loop or drum.

Magnetic recording and reproducing devices have found many useful commercial applications. Such devices utilize a record medium which is magnetic and, in recording thereon, variations are effected in the remanent magnetization of the record -medium, these variations corresponding to the information to be recorded. In reproducing such a'magnetic record, the variations in remanent magnetization of the medium are utilized to generate electrical voltages which are amplified and reproduced to provide the desired information. Various methods have been used to erase such a magnetic record member in order that a new recording can be made upon the same record member. One of the earliest erasing devices utilized a permanent magnet to saturate the record medium magnetically and vrecordings made thereon thereafter were caused to decrease the remanent magnetization of the record medium in accordance with the information to be recorded.

Another method which has been used. in effecting erasing of a record medium so that a new record can be made thereon is that of subjecting the record memberto a-decreasing alternating-current field. An erasing process of this nature leaves the record medium in a substantially neutral condition magnetically and subsequent recordings are made thereon by increasing the remanent magnetization in accordance with the information to be recorded. Many magnetic 5 Claims. (01. 179-1.00.2)

recorders utilize a high-frequency alternating 1 current superposed on the signal current during the recording process and, in suchinstallations,

7 it is frequently convenient to use the same highfrequency source to effect erasing by means of an alternating-current field as mentioned above.

However, if the erasing is done electrically, a separate erase head is generally required for the machine. In many installations the space requirements are such that "it is inconvenient or impossible to provide an additionalhead for eraspurposes. Furthermore, if erasing by electrical means is provided, there is always the possibility of circuit difliculties which will have the eifect of causing a failure in the erasing system at some time durin the operation of the machine. This can be very'annoying and'sometimes very serious in an. installation where the mag 2 netic recording equipment is tied into a control system or an accounting system. An erasing device utilizing a permanent magnet, on the other hand, can be operated mechanically and its operation can easily be checked visually so that for many installations such erasing provides a most satisfactory operation. Furthermore, it is highly desirable to provide an erasing mechanism which is automatic in nature so that the record is always erased when a recording is to be made.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved erasing device for magnetic recorders.

It is still another object of the invention to provide-an erasing device for magnetic recorders which is completely automatic and which serves to erase any record which may be on the machine at any time the machine is placed in such a condition that-a recording can be made.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an erasing device for a magnetic recorder which is very reliable in operation and which is easily serviced and the operation of which can be checked visually to determine that the erasing feature of the machine is in good working order.

In accordance with the invention, a magnetic recordingdevice comprises a recording head and a rotatable record member effectively having a plurality of record tracks to be successively traversed by the recording head during successive revolutions of the record member. Means are provided for rotating the record member and means are provided for erasing all of the abovementioned plurality of record tracks during a single rotation of the record member. Additionall-y, there are provided means for conditioning the magnetic-recording device for a recording operation during which the record member is rotated, together with means responsive to this conditioning means for causing the erasing means to erase all of the above-menti ned plurality of record tracks during .a. single rotation of the record member and thereafter to cause the recording head to traverse the record tracks in succession for recording information thereon.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, in Fig. 1 there is shown schematically a portion of a magnetic recording system which is utilized to illustrate the general principles involved in the magnetic recording process; Fig. 2 shows a magnetic recorder and reproducer in accordance with the invention, portions thereof being broken awayto illustrate more clearly certain features of the machine; Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate certain specific features of the machine of Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram used in explaining the operation and control of the mechanical portion of the machine of Fig. 2.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, the schematic arrangement there illustrated is provided primarily for illustrating the general principles of the drive system and the electrical cir-'- cuits associated directly with the recording process. In Fig. l, the reference numeral l0 illustrates a drum upon which magnetic recordings may be made. This drum may be of metal, either magnetic or non-magnetic, but if non-magnetic the surface thereof should be provided with a magnetic coating. Alternatively, a sheet of paper or plastic having a magnetic coating thereon .may be placed on the drum in order to receive the magnetic record. by a motor M through a rubber wheel II which bears on the motor shaft at one point and against The drum i8 is driven the surface of the drum H! at another point.

-A magnetic recording and reproducing head I3 is provided. This head is shown schematically as comprising two magnetic core members I4, I l, each having thereon a coil l5, l5, which coils are connected in series and to the center terminals of a double-pole, double-throw switch iii.

In order to illustrate a source of signals to be recorded, a microphone [l and its associated amplifier I8 are shown as being connected to one side of the double-pole, double-throw switch it. In order to illustrate the reproducing function of the machine, an amplifier l9 and an associated loud-speaker 28 are shown as connected to the other set of switch terminals.

A bias source 2! is illustrated for supplying a suitable bias during the recording process. This bias source may be of direct current or may provide an alternating-current output having a fre- 4 quency above the range of the signals to be recorded.

' In considering the operation of the arrange- -ment of Fig. 1, it will first be assumed that the switch it is closed to connect microphone ii to 4 and the drum lll. A lead screw is provided for traversing the head l3 across the drum l0. This lead screw is driven through a gear 26 on the shaft of drum iii through the medium of an idler gear '21 and a gear 28 on the shaft of the lead screw 25. The rotatable record member is preferably provided by means of a plating of magnetic material on the drum ii and this record member elfectively has a plurality of record tracks which are successively traversed by the recording head 13 during successive revolutions of the drum l8. Specifically, the head l3 travels in a spiral path axially of the drum when the motor M is energized.

The machine illustrated in Fig. 2 comprises a means for erasing all of this plurality of record tracks during a single rotation of the record member or drum H). For the purpose of erasing the record member, permanent magnets 29, 29 are provided. These fperrnanent magnets are mounted on arms 35], 30 which are pivoted around pins 3|, 3!. The side plate in the foregoing of the illustration is shown as having been broken away in order to show more clearly certain details of the machine but it will be understood that each of the two pins Si, Si are held by the two side plates of the machine, only one of which, designated by the reference numeral 32, is illustrated. As illustrated in the drawing, the magnets 29, 22 are spaced from the drum H] and no erasing is eiiected during this position of the magnets. For the purpose of moving the magnets 29, 29 into contact with the drum ID, a cam 33 is provided which is adapted to be pressed into contact with the gear 2'. through the medium of a spring 3 1 which is carried by the cam 33. It may be preferable to provide a pin on spring 34 which is adapted to fit into an indentation in gear 27 through a hole in cam 34 in order to provide a positive lock between cam 33 and gear 2i. As illustrated, the cam 33 is provided with a slot containing a roller 35 and the construction is such that, when the cam 33 is driven, the roller 35 actuates an arm 36 which is pivoted about a pin 31 and which, in turn, moves one of the arms 36 through the medium of a pin 38. A spring 39 is provided for causing the roller 35 to follow the contour of the cam 33. Rotation of the cam 33,

therefore, causes the roller 35 to be driven out of connect the loadspeaker 28 to the head l3 and, v

. under these conditions, variations in the remanent magnesium of the drum Ill cause electrical currents to be induced in the windings liL-lii which are, in turn, amplified in amplifier l9 and reproduced by the loudspeaker 2i Coming now to the illustration of Fig. 2 which shows a preferred embodiment of the erasing device of the invention, it will first be stated that the electrical components illustrated in Fig. 1 have been omitted from the showing of Fig. 2 for the sake of clarity. The magnetic recording device of 2 does, however, illustrate the recording head E3, the motor M, the drum ill and the drive wheel H. The wheel H is carried by an arm fl, pivoted at pin 3 on the housing of the motor M and biased by a spring 9 so that the wheel ll contacts the shaft 9' of the motor M it and a record solenoid M.

" the depression in cam 33 thereby raising the roller and lowering the magnets '29, 29 against the surface of the drum it.

In the operation of the machine it is essential that the magnets 29, be lowered against the drum it only during certain conditions of operation and, for thepurpose of causing the cam 33 to be ineffective to operate the magnets 29, 29 during certain conditions of operation, a latching device is provided for holding the spring 34 and the cam 33 away from gear 21. This latching device comprises a bellcrank which is pivoted upon a pin 4! which is biased counter-clockwise by means of a spring 412. One end of the bellcrank 4% is adapted to be driven between the spring 34 and the cam 33 when the motor M operates in such a manner that the pressure of the spring 34 is relieved so that cam 33 ceases to rotate. During certain conditions of operation, however, it is necessary to release the spring 3 and this is done by means of a solenoid-operated lever system which includes the levers 43, A l, 45,

Energization of the solenoid M thus causes the lever to raise a pin 48cm one end of the bellcrank it and rotate the bellcrank clockwise. This removes the bellcrank P lfl from-oontact with the spring 34. The lever 43, however, is provided with an inclined surface upon which the pin 48 bears and the contour is such that, when solenoid 4-1- is energized, the pin 48 is driven up this inclined surface to release the spring 3 and thereafter the pin .48 drops-off the inclined surface, again allowing the bellcrank 40 to be biased in a counter-clockwise direction by means of the spring 22. Thus, when the latch provided by the bellorank 40 and the spring 34 is released by the lever 43, the cam 33 is pressed into contact with gear 21 and rotates with gear 21 for a complete revolution of the drum ill, but at the end of this revolution, one end of bellcrank it enters a space between the spring 34 and the cam 33 and effectively relieves the pressure between the cam 33 and the gear 21. This mechanism is provided to cause the machine to erase only during one revolution of the drum Ill.

The machine illustrated also comprises the feature of a stopping device which is effective to cause the machine to operate during a reproducing operation only over the portion of the drum Ill upon which a recording has previously been made. The feature of the machine which causes it to repeat after only the portion of the record member 19 has been covered which contains a recording thereon is described and claimed in the copending application of David P. Parkinson, Serial No. 174,209, filed on the same date as the instant application and assigned to the same assignee. This stopping featureis provided by a latching arrangement including a member 49 which is positioned at the proper point during a recording process in a manner which will be described in detail hereinafter. The head I3 is normally removed from the drum H], but when a recording is to be made, the head I3 is moved against the drum l9 by means of a record solenoid 50 and levers and 52. The head I3 is moved by an arm 53 which is pivoted on a rod 54 which runs between the two side plates 32, 32 of the machine and the arm 53 is effectively provided with a half-nut portion 54 adapted, when in operation, to contact the lead screw and drive the arm 53 axially of the drum [9. A pin 53, held by the arm 53 engages a channel portion of lever 52 in such a manner that the head I3 is moved into contact with the drum Ii] when the lever 52 is moved in a clockwise direction around the rod 54. Operation of the solenoid 53 which, in turn, moves the levers 5| and 52 caused the arm 53 to be rotated to move the head [3 against the drum ID. A spring 55, associated with solenoid 50, normally keeps the head [3 removed from the drum II] when the solenoid 59 is not energized. A similar spring 55 is provided for solenoid 41. A portion of the arm 53, as is more clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, is adapted to move the latch 49 over to its required position as a recording is being made. The lever 45 presses against the arcuate portion of latch 59 when the record solenoid 41 is energized to move the latch 49 so that it readily can be pushed by the arm 53. The latch 49 is generally similar to the margin stops which are used on commercial typewriters and operates along a saw-tooth bar 55 which is suspended from the side plates 32, 32 of the machine by means of springs 51, 51 (see Fig. 3), pins or screws 58, 58 being utilized to hold the springs 51, 51 against the side plates 32, 32 of the machine. When the lever 45 is rotated counter-clockwise as seen in Fig. 2, a spring 59 causes the latch 49 to be locked into one of the serrations of bar 53 effectively making the latch g. 59. immovable. A spring 60 provided for returning the arm 53 and the record head l3 to the starting position under certain conditions of operation which are described in detail hereinafter.

In order to provide certain additional control features, several switches are incorporated in the machine of Fig. 2. Thus, there is provided a normally closed end switch which is illustrated in Fig. 3 by the reference numeral 6| but which has been omitted from the showing of Fig. 2 for the sake of clarity. The switch 61' hasan arm 63 which is adapted to be driven by the serrated strip 56 which it is moved against the action of springs 51, 51. In operation, the serrated strip 56 is so moved when contacted by arm 33 in certain conditions of operation, described hereinafter, when the arm 33 is being driven by lead screw 25. Also a "begin switch is illustrated in Fig. 3 by the reference numeral 64. Here again a showing of this switch has been omittedfrom Fig. 2 for the sake of clarity. The switch 64 is operated by a lever 65 under certain conditions of operation, described hereinafter, when the lever 65 is contacted by the arm 53 under the influence of spring 60. This condition of operation can only occur, of course, when the arm 53 is not in contact with and being driven by the lead screw 25. Another switch which is not shown in the Fig. 2 arrangement because it is inconvenient to do so therein is illustrated by the showing of Fig. 4. This switch may be termed the drumangle switch and comprises normally open contacts 66 and 61 which are adapted to be closed by a projection 68 on the hub portion of drum m, the purpose of this switch being to provide a circuit for causing the energization of the record solenoid 50 at a predetermined instant such that the head I3 always travels the same spiral path over the drum [0. Additionally, the device of Fig. 2 includes a multi-contact relay 69 (not shown) termed the record relay and a multicontact relay 10 (not shown) termed they play relay.

In order to describe the sequence and method of operation of the various elements which have so far been described, reference is now made to Fig. 5 wherein there is shown a schematic electrical diagram of the machine which omits the electrical features directly associated with the recording process which are illustrated in Fig. 1. Thus in Fig. 5 the solenoid 50 is illustrated as having a pair of normally open contacts which are in shunt with the drum-angle switch contacts 61- 58. The play relay 1D is adapted to be energized through the normally closed contacts of the begin switch 64, a set of normally closed contacts on the record relay 69 and a play" switch 1|. The motor M is shown in Fig. 5 as being connected to a GO-cycle power source through a set of normally open contacts on the play relay 10. A record switch 12 is also provided for energizing record relay 69 and initiating the recording operation of the machine. The end switch 6|, which is shown in Fig. 3, is also illustrated in Fig. 5 and the remaining connections and relay and solenoid contacts are as illustrated in Fig. 5.

In considering the operation of the machine which has just beendescribed it is desirable to consider the entire cycle in several steps. First let it be assumed that a recording is to be made on the machine. In order to make this recording, the operator closes the record switch 12 which causes the record relay 69 to be energized directly from the 48-volt power source illustrated. The

energization of the record relay B9 in turn energizes the play relay .10 through the begin switch 64 and a set of normally-open contacts upon the record relay 69. When the play relay 10 is thus energized, the motor M is connected to the GO-cycle power source through a set of normally open contacts on the play relay 10. The play solenoid 50 is also energized through the drum-angle switch 57, 68 and a set of normally open contacts on the play relay 10. However, the play solenoid 50 can only be energized at a particular instant during the rotation of drum it! when the drumangle switch 61, 68 (see Fig. 4) is closed. This insures that the head [3 will always be placed in the same spiral track on drum I0.- However, once the drum-angle switch 61, 68 has been closed to energize play solenoid 50, this solenoid closes its set of normally open contacts effectively to short out the drum-angle switch 61, 68 maintaining the play solenoid energized even though drumangle switch El, 68 opens immediately thereafter due to the rotation of the drum Ill. The record solenoid 41 is also energized through sets of normally open contacts on record relay 69 and play relay 10 so that, during the recording operation, record relay 69, play relay l0, record solenoid 4! and play solenoid 50 are all energized. Under this condition of the machine, the motor drives drum H] which, in turn, rotates gear 21. The energization of solenoid 4'! causes the bellcrank 40 to be rotated clockwise through the action of the levers 45, 45, 44, and 43, thus releasing spring 34 and causing the spring 34 to press the cam 33 against the gear 21. The cam 33 is thus driven by the gear 21 and the roller 35, following the surface of cam 33, causes the permanent magnets 29, 29 to be pressed against the surface of the drum I6. This condition endures for one complete revolution of the drum I after which the bellcrank 40 again engages spring 34 and releases the tension of cam 33 against the gear 2?, thereby stopping the cam 33 with the pin 35 in the depression on the cam surface and causing the permanent magnets 29, 29 to stop in their position remote from the drum Ill. The energization of the play relay causes the head l3 to be moved against the surface of the drum it] through the lever system 5|, 52, and 53 and also causes the half-nut 54 on the arm 53 to engage the lead screw 25. Head l3 thus commences to follow a spiral path along the drum surface as soon as the solenoid 5B is energized. During this interval a recording can be made by speaking into the microphone ll illustrated in Fig. 1 when the switch I6 is so thrown as to connect the microphone H to the head l3 through the amplifier I8. Due to the fact that the lever presses against the arcuate portion of latch 49, the latch 49 is free to slide along the serrated bar and is moved therealong by its contact with the arm 53 as is most clearly illustrated in Fig. 3.

The conditions just described endure until a recording has been made. When the recording is finished however, the record switch 12 is opened and which de-energizes all of the relays and solenoids. The de-energization of solenoid 41 causes the lever 45 to release its pressure on the arcuate part of the latching device 49 tightly locking this device in one of the teeth of the serrated lever 55. The de-energization of solenoid 50 causes the half-nut 54 to be removed from its contact with the lead screw 25 and the spring is efifective to pull the head 13 back to its starting position because of the fact that the lever 53 is slidable on the rod 54.

Therefore, as the operation of the machine has so far been described, a recording has been made upon the drum I0 and the latching device 49 has been set at a position which corresponds to the lengths of the recording which has been made.

It is next in order to consider the operation of the machine during a reproducing operation. When it is desired to reproduce the record which has been made on the drum ID, the play switch H is closed which energizes the play relay 10 through the begin switch 64 and a set of normally closed contacts on the record relay 69. The begin-switch 64 is only closed when the head I3 is in the starting position but the relay 10, when energized through the begin-switch 64, remains energized through a normally open set of contacts on play relay 13, the end-switch H and two pairs of normally closed contacts on the record relay 69. The play solenoid 50 is next energized through the drum-angle switch 6768 and a set or normally open contacts of the play relay 10. Due to the normally open set of contacts on play solenoid 50, which effectively shorts drum-angle switch 61, 58, the play solenoid 50 again remains energized after the drum-angle switch is driven beyond its closed position. As thus described the head 13 is in contact with the drum It, having been placed there on exactly the same track which was used in the recording process, and the lead screw 25 drives the head I3 along the desired path on drum l0.

Referring back to Fig. 1 and considering the switch I6 to be closed in the position connecting loudspeaker 20 to the record head l3 through amplifier l9, it will thus be seen that, under the conditions just described, the machine functions to reproduce the recording which was previously made. However, when the machine reaches the end of the recording, the lever 53 pushes against a portion of the stop device 49 as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 due to the fact that the lever 53 is being driven by the lead screw 25. Since the latch 49 is in its locked position, this pressure against it causes a movement of the serrated bar 56 against the action of the springs 57, 5?, thereby moving the lever 63 and operating the end switch 6|.

It Will be seen by reference to Fig. 5 that, when the end-switch 6| is open, the locking circuit of the play relay 10 is broken to de-energize the relay. This causes both the play relay l0 and the play solenoid 50 to be de-energized and the spring 60 again pulls the head l3 back to its starting position. If now the play switch ll still remains closed, the reproducing cycle will be repeated.

The machine which has just been described was designed primarily for use in connection with complicated installations of switching equipment in order to efiect certain accounting or ticketselling operations. In one installation, the machine has been used for recording the available space in Pullmans. The installation is such that any ticket seller can contact the particular machine upon which the information he desires is recorded and listen to the recording thereon in order to determine what space is available on a particular train. This system is also such that, when a ticket is sold, the recording can be easily changed by a simple operation so that the same ticket agent or any other ticket agent interested in space on the same train thereafter will instantly receive the desired information. It is contemplated that a large number of the machines of the present invention will be utilized in the installation under consideration and that ticket agents at various remote points will have the necessary information and controls available for their purposes. It is also contemplated that the machine just described will be used in various inventory and accounting systems, wherein each particular machine is used to record some particular item or bit of information and wherein any desired machine can be contacted for the purpose of listening to its record or changing the record thereon by any desired number of authorized personnel.

While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the inventon and it is, therefore, aimed to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A magnetic recording device comprising: a recording head; a magnetizable and rotatable record member; a motor for rotating said record member; a, head-traversing device driven by said motor for causing said head successively to traverse a plurality of record tracks on said record member during successive revolutions of said record member; an erasing device extending across all of said record tracks; a record-control for said magnetic recording device; an electrical circuit adapted to be energized by said record-control and eifective to cause said erasing device to be operative for substantially one complete revolution of said record member, whereby all previous records on said record member are erased; a cam driven by said motor for causing said erasing device to become inoperative after said one complete revolution; and an electrical circuit adapted to be energized by said record control at a fixed position of said record. member and effective to start said head in its traverse of said record tracks.

2. A magnetic recording device comprising: a recording head; a magnetizable and rotatable record member in the form of a continuous loop; a motor for rotating said record member; a headtraversing device driven by said motor for causing said head successively to traverse a plurality of record tracks on said record member during successive revolutions of said record member; an erasing device extending across all of said record tracks; a record-control for said magnetic recording device; an electrical circuit adapted to be energized by said record-control and effective to cause said erasing device to be operative for substantially one complete revolution of said record member, whereby all previous records on said record member are erased; a cam driven by said motor for causing said erasing device to become inoperative after said one complete revolution; and an electrical circuit adapted to be energized by said record-control at a fixed position of said record member and efiective to start said head in its traverse of said record tracks.

3. A magnetic recording and reproducing device comprising: a recording and reproducing head; a magnetizable and rotatable record member; a motor for rotating said record member; a head-traversing device driven by said motor for causing said head successively to traverse a plurality of record tracks on said record member during successive revolutions of said record member; an erasing device extending across all of said record tracks; a record-control for said magnetic recording device; an electrical circuit;

adapted to be energized by said record-control and effective to cause said erasing device to be operative for substantially one complete revolution of said record member, whereby all previous records on said record member are erased; a cam driven by said motor for causing said erasing device to become inoperative after said one complete revolution; an electrical circuit adapted to be energized by said record control at a fixed position of said record member and efiective to start said head in its traverse of said record tracks; a reproduce-control for said magnetic recording and reproducing device; and an electrical circuit adapted to be energized by said reproduce-control and efiective to cause said erasing means to be inoperative and to cause said head means to traverse said record tracks in succession for reproducing information therefrom.

4. A magnetic recording device comprising: a recording head; a magnetizable and rotatable record member; a motor for rotating said record member; a head-traversing device driven by said motor for causing said head successively to traverse a plurality of record tracks on said record member during successive revolutions of said record member; an erasing device extending across all of said record tracks; a record-control for said magnetic recording device; an electrical circuit adapted to be energized by said record-control and effective to cause said erasing device to be operative for substantially one complete revolution of said record member, whereby all previous records on said record member are erased; a cam for causing said erasing device to become inoperative after one complete revolution; a clutch for connecting said cam to said motor; and an electrical circuit adapted to be energized by said record-control at a fixed position of said record member and effective to start said head in its traverse of said record tracks.

5. A magnetic recording device comprising: a recording head; a magnetizable and rotatable record member; a motor for rotating said record member; a head-traversing device driven by said motor for causing said head successively to traverse a plurality of record tracks on said record member during successive revolutions of said record member; an erasing device extending across all of said record tracks; a record-control for said magnetic recording device; an electrical circuit adapted to be energized by said record-control and effective to cause said erasing device to be operative for substantially one complete revolution of said record member, whereby all previous records on said record member are erased; a dam for causing said erasing device to become inoperative after one complete revolution; a solenoid-operated clutch for connecting said cam device to said motor; and an electrical circuit adapted to be energized by said record control at a fixed position of said record member and effective to start said head in its traverse of said record tracks.

SEMI JOSEPH BEGUN. THEODORE F. DEUCHER.

Name Date Poulsen Dec. 10, 1907 Number 

